Gilad Shalit was that soldier. He was captured by the Palestinian terrorists while patrolling along the Israel-Gaza border. Two other Israeli soldiers were killed in that raid, and Hamas took credit for the attack.
Hamas is the same terrorist group that currently dominates Gaza and kicked Fatah to the curb there.
Israeli forces attempted a rescue operation on June 28, 2006, but to no avail. Since then, there have been repeated attempts at negotiating with Hamas for the release, but instead of Hamas taking a more conciliatory tone, they've increased their demands on Israel.
So, here we are a year later, and Gilad is still not reunited with his family, friends, and loved ones. Hundreds rallied in Jerusalem to mark the occasion.
Gilad's father Noam is urging PM Olmert to ignore the political considerations to bring his son home. One cannot help but feel sympathy for the Shalit family, but the reality is that Gilad would soon be followed by many other Israeli soldiers captured to demand concessions from Israel - concessions that threaten Israel's national security, and the Israeli government cannot ignore the ramifications of those prisoner swaps.
UPDATE:
Carl in Jerusalem points to an interesting proposition. Humanitarian aid for humanitarian aid. If Hamas wants Israel to continue its humanitarian aid to Gaza, it should release Gilad Shalit. Quid pro quo.
It's so simple that I doubt Hamas would do it, because it doesn't have nearly the kind of effect that Hamas seeks from demanding Israel release hundreds of Palestinian terrorists from Israeli jails.
UPDATE:
The Jawa Report has additional coverage on the situation, and notes a report suggesting that Shalit is being held in the basement of a booby trapped building somewhere in Rafah.
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